All-Emirati team confirmed for powerboating season opener

Team Abu Dhabi confirm that drivers Thani al Qamzi and Ahmed al Hameli will lead the team in May.

Ahmed al Hameli, of Team Abu Dhabi, in action on the Corniche.

ABU DHABI // Team Abu Dhabi confirmed yesterday that drivers Thani al Qamzi and Ahmed al Hameli will lead the team in May at the 2010 Union Internationale Motonautique F1H²O World Championships in Portugal. Salem Romaithi, the assistant general manager of the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club, said: "The aim is to compete seriously for the overall world championship title and to see one of our own local Abu Dhabi team drivers winning the title for the first time.

"The team has already won with former star Scott Gillman and it would be the next step for an Emirati national to win the title." Romaithi confirmed that both al Qamzi and al Hameli will benefit from the latest equipment and new boats for the campaign, which gets under way on May 8. "We want the new boats to ? further widen the awareness of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi through our valuable association with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)."

The race boats were shipped to Portugal a few days ago, although Team Abu Dhabi drivers have been able to test the boats in home waters to ensure they are fully prepared for the new season. Al Hameli expressed gratitude to Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa "for his support and his provision of equipment for the team". "My motivation," he added, "will be to become the best and to give my maximum efforts to reach the podium in every race."

Al Qamzi has left nothing to chance for the start of the new season. "Good preparation and routine is critical to success," he said. "The goal for us this season is quite straightforward. Team Abu Dhabi wants to win the world title and both Ahmed and myself want to win the individual title in 2010." "Team Abu Dhabi has become one of the most important teams in the championship," said Sheikh Sultan, chairman of the board of directors of the marine sports club.

"They are at the business end of the championship and are always competing for titles. "That is why I have renewed confidence in our drivers ? to continue in the same way this year. Sheikh Sultan also praised efforts to put the emirate at the forefront of international sport. [e-mail]